Remote pressure control apparatus



P. B. R. BAAs 2,023,503

REMOTE PRESSURE CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Jan. 18, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 10, 1935.

INVENTOR m v m WiTNESSES Dec. 10, 1935. P. B. R. BAAs REMOTE PRESSURE CONTROL APPARATUS 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Jan. 18, 1934 WITNESSES Patented Dec. 10, 1935v REMOTE PRESSURE CONTROL APPARATUS Philip B. R. Baas, Brooklyn, N.

Y., assigner to Brooklyn Borough Gas Company, Brooklyn,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 18, 1934, Serial No. 707,228 10 Claims. (Cl. 50-10) This"y invention relates to automatic' remoteK pressure control apparatus, and while it is especially adapted for use in 'connection with 'the control of gas pressures in mains it is obvious that the invention is not limited t the pressure of gas as it may be employed to con rol pressures of fluid of any kind, although for convenience oi' description and to prevent repetition the invention will hereinafter be referred to and described in connection with gas'such as ordinarily suppliedthrough mains for consumption in municipalities. e 'A l 'An object of the invention is to provide, in addition to equipment Vin ordinary use, autoprovide automatic means of this character which', if for any i'eason, becomes inoperative it not -inany way interferewithusuch controls-as are now in use, but when my improved automatic means is in operation it will cut-out present controlling means and function in lieu thereof.

'A further object is to provide an improved construction and arrangement of magnetic linkage versible motor and a pilot control on what is generally known as a district governor, the magnetic linkage operating as a clutch between the motor and the pilot so that in the event there is a failure of electric current for any reason-the matic means which will regulate pressure in highL7 between a one hundred eighty Y( 180) degree re-v It is also the broad purpose of my invention to `magnetic link-age will cease to function and the district ,governor will function, as before.

With these and other objects in view, the invention 'consists in certain novel features of construction a`nd combinations and arrangements of parts, all of which will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying, drawings- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view. illustratingrr Ymy invention;

Figure 2 is a view partly in elevationand partly in longitudinal section illustrating my improved magneticlinkage; Figure 3 is a view in section on the line 3 3 55 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a view in section on the line 4 4 of Figure 3. y Referring more particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings, I represents a high pressure main which communicates with a low pressure main 2, and at 'the juncture-of these mains a controller 3 -is located and thisgcontroller, known as a district governor, is in common use and operates to insure a variation in pressures between the mains. f j l In connection with the district governor 3` a pilot governor 4 is employed which, when functioning, operates as a positively moving valve mechanism to control the variance in pressures between the high and low pressure mains, but l5 when notlpositively functioning permits the district governor 3 to function in its ordinary manner. This pilot governor 4 is positively operated through the medium of my improved magnetic linkage, indicated generally by the character reference L, which operatively connects the valve mechanism of the pilot control 4 with a one hundred eighty degree electric motor, indicated generally by the reference character M. This motorV M moves through one hundred eighty (180) degrees and has a very small stroke, all of which will be. more fully hereinafter described. o

On the low pressure main 2 at a point distant l from the district governor 3 a controller C is located, and constitutes a casing communicating 30 with the low pressure main and having a diaphragin 5 therein sensitive to pressure in the main. This diaphragm 5 islconnected by a link 6 to a lever 1, the connection between the link andthe lever being at one side of the pivot 8 of 35 .the lever, and a spring coil 9 is located at theother side of the lever to balance the lever. The lever] carries a contact arm I0 which is electrically grounded, as shown at I I, and is adapted to move longitudinally of a resistance coil I2, said coil and contact constituting a potentiometer, indicated as a whole by the reference character P. 1

A high pressure cut-out A and a low pressure cut-out B communicate with the low pressure main and may be operatively connected to a pipe I3 which in turn is connected to the low pressure main. These high and low pressure cut-outs both comprise casings having diaphragme I4 and I5, respectively, therein which are sensitive to the pressure in the main. The diaphragm I4 of the highpressure cut-out is connected by a linkage I6 with a contact lever Il, and the diaphragm I5 of the low pressure cut-out B is connected by a linkage I8 with a contact lever I9. 55

In my improved electric circuit I employ two electrically balanced relays D and E, a transformer F, a motor constituting lan impulse timer G and a short circuiting relayv H, all of which will be more fully described in connection with the particular circuit which is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. The balanced relays D and E constitutebalanced solenoids, and the reason I employ two of these balanced solenoids is because the current required to operate a reversible motor is greater than is ordinarily per-fl mitted to be carried on ordinary telephone circuits. Therefore, the telephone circuit hereinafter described includes the balanced relay or solenoid' D, and the balanced relay or solenoid E is in circuit with the motor.

Before describing the circuit Iv shall describe the magnetic linkage, attention being directed particularly to Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings. The essential feature of this linkage isga magnetic clutch which comprises'a central armature 20 movably mounted in a field comprising a winding 2| supported in laminated plates 22,- which are clamped between side plates 23, and bolts 24 are projected through perforated lugs 25 on the platesv 23 and having nuts 26 theregn Aclamping the parts together. The armature 8 is preferably rectangular in cross section, movable in a rectangular opening in the field, and is also preferably made up of laminated plates. At the sides of the iield rollers 26 are mounted and engage rails 21 at the sides of the casing 28 to guide the linkage in its vertical reciprocations. This casing 28 is fixed and depends from a casing 29 which encloses the motor M but, as above stated, this motor is a one hundred and eightyy (180) degree motor; thatis to say,'it moves its shaft 3|) and crank disk 3| through an arc of 180 backwardly and forwardly. lIfhis crank disk is grooved to receive an adjustable'coupling pin 32, so that by adjusting this pin in the groove the strokeimparted by the motor can be varied. An inverted T-shaped link 33 is pivotally connected to the pin 32 and the lower portion of this link 33 is pivotally connected by links 34 with the plates 23.

A depending screwthreaded rod 35 is secured in the lower end of the armature 20 and projects through a leather or other suitable diaphragm 36 closing the lower end of the casing 28, and nuts 31 are located'on the rod 35 at opposite sides of the diaphragm 36 and are clamped thereto. The lower end of the rod 35 is adjustably connected by a coupling sleeve 38 with a rod 39, and this rod 39 extends into and operates the pilot control 4, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. I t is ob.-

vious that when the magnetic clutch is energized the field and. armature will be coupled so that the movements of thelinkage, due to the motor M, will be transmitted tothe pilot control 4, and when the magnetic clutch is 'de-energized the magnetic field will move relatively ,to the armature and no motion will be imparted to the pilot control.

Referring again to the diagram in Figure l, 40 and 4| represent supply wires, which are tapped by lead-in wires 42 and 43, respectively. These lead-in wires 42 and 43 are connected by a manually operated switch 44 and fuses 42' and 43' with wires 45and 4 6 respectively. The wire 45 extends to and is connected to one terminal of the motor field 41 of the impulse timer G, and the other terminal of the motor field 41 is connected by a wire 48 with wire 46. The wire 46 extends to and is connected with the lower end of the eld windof said winding'being connected through wires 49 and 84 and 68 to 45 which also extend to a contact 50 of the short circuiting relay H through a wire 49, the other contact 5| of said relay being connected by a wire'52 with the wire 46. Telephone lines 53 and 54 connect the respective ends of the coil I2 with the respective ends of the secondary winding 55 of the transformer F. Thetelephone lines 53 and 54 are connected by wires 56 and 51 with the respective ends of a coil 58 of 10 the balanced relay D. A wire 59 is connected to the center of the coil 58 andl is grounded. as illustrated.

An armature 68 o f the relay D carries an insulated contact 6| which is normally disposed be- 15 -`tween and spaced from contacts 62 and 63 respectively. 64 with one end of the coil 65 of the relay E, and the contact 63 is connected by a wire 66 with the other end of said coil. The center of the coil 65 is 2 0 connected by a wire 61 with wire 46, and the contact 6| on the armature 60 is connected by a wire 68 with the. wire 45. An armature 69 of relay E carries an insulated contact. 16, normally disposed between and spaced vfrom contacts 1| and 2 5 l 12. The contact1l Ais connected by a wire 13 with an outer terminal 14 of motor M. The contact 12 is connected by a-"wire 15 with the other outer terminal 16 of motor M. The intermediate terminal 11 ofrnotor M is connected by a wire 18 30 with a movablecontact arm 19 operated by the rotary member 88 of the impulse timer G.

The contact 62 is connected by a wire A stationary contact l8| of the impulse timer is v'connected by a wire 82 with the wire 61. On'e end of the primary coil 83 of the transformer F is 35 connected by a wire 84 with wire 68,- and the other end of said primary coil'is connected by a wire 85 with the wire 61.

86 represents a contact normally spaced from but adapted to be engaged by the pivotedlever 40 |9 of the llow pressure cut-out B. This contact 86 is connected by a wire 81 with one end fof an operating coil 88 of the short circuiting relay H, the other end of said coil being connected by a wire 89 withwire 46. The pivoted lever-'45 |1 in the high pressure cut-out A is. connected by a wire 96 with the wire 81. A stationary contact 9| ofthe high pressure cut-out A is conv nected-by a wire 9 2 with,thejwire49.y The pivoted lever I9"of the lowfpressurfcut-out B i350 connected by'afwire93 .with the'wirei. The wire 8 4 whichconnectsl one end-'of' the primary coil of \the transformer l"v with the wire 43 is also electricallyjconnected, to the wire 68 yso that normally the magnetic linkage is energizedl as 55 indicated in the diagram.

In a system df this character levery precaution must be taken to insure safety. There are three conditions which might arise which would result in de-energizing the magnetic linkage L -y and discontinue the operation` of the pilot control 4. One of these conditions is a complete failure of electric current. Instantly the magnetic linkage would be de-energized and the district governor 3 would rume its ordinaryv func- 65 tions; secondly, there may be a-grounding, short circuiting, or open circuit in the telepho e lines, in which event the control circuit woul become unbalanced causing the control to increase or decrease the pressure in the low pressure main 7o .and thereby cause the high pressure or .low pressure cut-out to function and energize the short circuiti'ng relay H, causing the short clrcuiting of the fuses 42 and 43 and dropping the entire load ing 2| of the magnetic linkage L, the other end from the line; the magnetic linkage will be then 75 .0f the contacts l2 or i". Thi

de-energizd, no motion will be transmitted to the pilotvcontrol I, and the district governor 3 will function. JAssuming that the system is functioning normally the impulse timer G, which is continuously revolving, causes the contacts 19 and Il to close twice each minute, thus giving an 'impulse to the motor M to operate the pilot control '4 every thirty seconds, providing the circuit is unbalanced requiring a rise or fall of pressure in the low pressure main. This timing, o! course, may be varied to suit conditions.

The controller C and potentiometer P maintain the desired pressure in the low pressure main 2. If the pressurerlses or falls the potentiometer operates to unbalance the circuit, thus causing the solenoid oi.' the balanced relay D to operate to move the armature 60 either to the right or left so that the contact 5| engages either the circuit is imparted to the solenoid of the balanced relay E, causing the contact to engage contact 'il or 12. In accordance with the engagement of the respective contacts the mos unbalncing of,

tor M is caused lto move in one direction or the other, so that through the medium of the magnetic linkage the pilot control 4, or more spe- -ciilcally the valve of said pilot control, is caused to open or close or vary the portage to permit morev gas to the low pressure main or to cut down `the supply of gas, so that the eiect of the rise and fall of the pressure in the low pressure main at the potentiometer controller is instantly imparted to the pilot control through the medium of the magnetic linkage and circuits, as above explained@ maintain at au times the desired set pressure throughout the low pressur Vthroughout the system may be automatically controlled, and in the event of failure oi.' the automatic control to properly function it will be entirely eliminated 'as an operating system unt'l thisV trouble is overcome, so that it will not in any way interfere with the operation oi.' district governors such as now employed, for as soon as the magnetic linkage is de-energized the district governor can function normally, and regardless of conditions there :can be no impairage of control such as now employed; in other words, the system as now in use is ei'ilcient up to a certain point, but with myimproved automatic control, iluctuations in pressure are reduced to an abso- -lute minimum, and in my improved system I provide for every poible `contingency to deenergize. the magnetic linkage in the event of failure of the automatic system.

Briefly setting forth the operation of the system, we will assume that at the potentiometer control location of the low pressure main the pressure is what is required and desired, and in that eventthe parts will be balanced, as illustrated. Should there be a rise or fall of pressure in the low`pressure main the potentiometer will move, causing an unbalancing of the circuit. This will unbalance the solenoid D causing the contact 6| to close the circuit and unbalance the solenoid E. This will cause the contact 'III to engage one of the contacts 1I or 12, closing the circuit to the motor; when the impulse timer operates the motor will be caused to move to further open or close the valve of the pilot control. As long as the circuits remain unbalanced the impulse'. timer will close the circuit to the-motor `every thirty seconds. When the pressure becomes normal in the low pressure main the potentiometer moves to the center point of resistance .of coil I2 and the relays D and E will become balanced, the circuits will be opened and 5 the motor will cease to function.

While I have illustrated what Ibeliege to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that various slight changes may be made with regard to the form and arrangement of l0 parts without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairlyfall within the spirit and scope of the claims.

What I claim is: J

1. A pressure control apparatus including a container for high pressure iluid and a container for low pressure fluid, a governor between the containers, means for normally controlling the operation of the governor and including a motor, an electromagnetic coupling means operatively connecting the motor and the governor, a potentiometer operatively connected with the low pressure-container, and a balanced relay including an electric circuit with the potentiometer and the motor.

2. A pressure control apparatus including a container for high pressure iluid and a container for low pressure fluid, a governor between the containers, means for normally controlling the operation of the governor and including 'a motor, an electromagnetic coupling means operatively connecting the motor and the governor, a potentiometer operativelyconnected with the low pressure container, a balanced relay including an electric circuit with the potentiometer and the motor, and an impulse timer in the circuit imparting impulses to the motor whenthe-circuit isunbalanced. n

3. A lpressure control apparatus including a container for high pressure iiuid and a. container for low pressure uid, a governor between the containers, "means for normally controllingthe operation of the governor and including a motor, an electromagnetic coupling means operatively connecting the motor and the governor, high and low pressure cut-outs communicating with the low pressure container, and a short eircuiting relay included in an electric circuit with said high and low pressure cut-outs.

4. A pressure control apparatus including a container for high pressure iluid and a container for low pressure iluid, a governor between the containers, means for normally controlling the operation of the governor and including a motor, an electromagnetic coupling ,means operatively connecting the motor and the governor, a potentiometer operatively connected with the low pressure container, a balanced relay included in an electric circuit with the potentiometer and the motor, high and low pressure cut-outs communicating with the low' pressure container, and a short circuiting relay included in an electric circuit with said high and low pressure cut-outs.

5. A pressure control apparatus including a container for high pressure duid and a container for low pressure iiuid, ,a governor between the containers, means for normally controlling the operation. of the governor and including a motor, an electromagnetic coupling means operatively connecting the motor and the governor, a potentiometer operatively connected with the low pressure container, a balanced relay including an electric circuit withthe potentiometer .and the relay in circuit motor, an impulse timer in the circuit imparting impulses to the motor when the circuit is unbalanced, high and low pressure cut-outs communicating with the low pressure container, and al short circuiting relay included in an electric circuit with said high and low pressure cut-outs.

6. A pressure controlled apparatus including a high pressure main, a low pressure main, a distrlct governor between .the mains, means for normally controlling the operation of the governor and including a pilot control for the district governor, a motor having a shaft adapted to oscillate through 180, an electromagnetic coupling means operatively connecting the shaft and the pilot control, high and low pressure cutouts communicating with the low pressure main, a potentiometer operatively connected with the low pressure main, a balanced relay, and a short circuiting relay, said potentiometer, said balanced relay, said short circuiting relay, said high and low pressure cut-outs, an impulse timer, said magnetic linkage and said motor included in electric circuits .so that the operation of the potentiometer vunbalances the circuit which reverses the motor, and the operation of either of the cutouts functions to de-energize the magnetic 1ink/ age through the medium of the short circuiti g` relay. y/

'1. A pressure control apparatus including a containerfor high pressure'iiuid and a container for low pressure fluida. governor between the/ containers, means for normally controlling the operation of the governor and' including a motor,

, an electro-magnetic linkage operatively connecting the motor and the governor, electric means operatively connected with the low pressure container,'an electric circuit including a balanced with .said electric means, said circuit controlling the operation of said motor,^ and an impulse timer included in said circuit.

8. A pressure control apparatus including a container for high pressure fluid and a container for low pressure fluid, a governor between the containers, means for normally controlling the operation of the governor and including a motor, an electro-magnetic linkage operatively connecting the motor and the governor, an electric circuit ,to the motor' circuit including a balanced relay controlling the operation of the motor, electric means operatively connected with the low pressure container and operated by pressure within the low pressure container to balance lor unbalance the circuit, and x5 an impulse timer in said circuit.

'9. A pressure control apparatus comprising a high pressure fluid main, a low pressure iluidv main, a governor between the mains capable of maintaining a predetermined pressure of fluid in 10 the low pressure lfluid main, means for normally controlling the operation of the governor and' including a motor, electromagnetic coupling means between the motor andthe governor, an electric circuit, an electric means operatively con- 1.5 nected with the low pressure fluid main and included in said circuit, a motor circuit, means controlled by the'first-mentioned circuit for controlling the closing and opening of the motor circuit, said governor .being released from the 20 normal controlling means only upon accidentalv failure of the means for normally controlling operation of the governor.

10. A pressure control apparatus comprising a high pressure fluid main, a low pressure fluid g5 main, a governor between the mains capable of maintaining a predetermined pressure of iluid in the low pressure fluid main, means for ncrmally controlling the operation of the governor and including means between the motor and the governor, an electric circuit, an electric means operatively connected with the low pressure fluid main and included in said circuit', a motor circuit, means controlled by the first-mentioned circuit for con- 35 trolling the closing and opening of the motor circuit, said governor being released from the normal controlling means only upon accidental failure` "ofv the means for normally controlling operation of the governor, a

V and controlling the electromagnetic coupling means, means causedto be set in operation when the pressure in the low pressure. main varies sufliciently from a predetermined degree or causing short circuiting of the last-mentioned circuit.

' PHILIP B. R. BAAS.

a motor, electromagnetic coupling 30l third circuit parallel 4@ 

